Electrical component housing and system



March 14, 1967 w. F. ROLL, JR 3,309,577

ELECTRICAL COMPONENT HOUSING AND SYSTEM Filed March 7, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet guuuuuu (/2! i H INVENTOR.

FIG. 3 WAL 752 E ROLL, JR.

March 14, 1967 -w. F. ROLL, JR 3,309,577

ELECTRICAL COMPONENT HOUSING AND SYSTEM Filed March 7, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet z v J I @JZ FIG. 5

I NVENTOR WALTER F'. ROLL, JP,

fig pillar/1g United States Patent 3,309,577 ELECTRICAL COMPONENT HOUSING AND SYSTEM Walter Francis Roll, In, Dallas, Tex., assignor to Koppers Company, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 7, 1966, Ser. No. 532,161 18 Claims. (Cl. 317-95) This invention relates to electrical component systems and more particularly to an improved housing for electrical components.

While the present invention relates generally to a housing for various kinds of electrical components, it is particularly related to a housing for annunciators and the hereinafter description is directed to an annunciator housing and an annunciator system.

Annunciator systems generally include in their circuitry module components which provide a visual alarm unit, such as a light, for each variable that is to be monitored. The visual alarm unit becomes active and provides an indication that the variable has become abnormal, and a manually operable acknowledgement control may be provided which, when operated, deactivates the visual alarm unit signifying that an operator has acknowledged the visual signal. Usually, an audible alarm is also provided to attract the operators attention to a central control panel containing the visual alarm units associated with practically all of the variables being monitored. Thus, the operator can determine'at a glance the condition of all of the variables. I

As would be expected, annunciator systems are quite complex in their components and circuitry, and anything as complex as annunciator systems is susceptible to occasional malfunctioning or improper operation. When such malfunctioning occurs, it is necessary that the vari ables be monitored visually or mechanically until such time as the system can be restored by replacing the malfunctioning annunciator or the defective electrical com ponent of the annunciator. This has been difficult heretofore for the reason that the annunciator modules have been contained in a metal receptacle. Consequently, it has been necessary to obtain access to the back of'the annunciator metal receptacle upon indication of a malfunctioning of a module of the annunciator, and the Work of removing this annunciator module has been time consuming and expensive.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide a novel system, such as a system comprisingiannunciator modules, that is readily and simply serviced by removing an improperly operating module with a properly functioning spare module, so that the entire system can be quickly restored to full operation with a minimum of interruption of service. I

The present invention provides an annunciator housing comprising a tubular main body portion, a collar fixed to one end of the main body portion, a closure removably secured to the collar and a closure removably secured to the other end of the main body portion. The tubular main body portion includes first and second matching units each of which includes a first wall and spaced apart second and third side walls that are fixed to the longitudinal edges of the first wall. Internally of each unit, there are fourth and fifth spaced apart walls affixed to the first wall in spaced apart relation from respective second and third walls to form opposed grooves within the main body portion. Thus, an electrical module of a rectangle shape that conforms to the internal configuration of the main body portion is inserted and maintained 3,339,577 Patented Mar. 14, 1967 in the main body portion by an edge mounting connector and module keying insert. The tubular main body portion also has external grooves in the side surfaces which are adapted to cooperate with splines that are used to fix and maintain adjacent housings in a spaced apart relation.

For a further understanding of the present invention and for advantages and features thereof, reference may be made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing showing for the purpose of exemplification a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a plurality of embodiments of the housing of the invention disposed in a stacked arrangement;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the arrangement of housings shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a housing along line III-III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view along line IV-IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a keying insert;

FIG. 6 is aschematic perspective view of a spacer piece;

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of one end closure;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of a typical electrical component or module adapted for use in the housing;

FIG. 9 is aperspective view of a terminal board; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a stacked arrangement of the housings in accordance with another aspect of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a stacked arrangement of a plurality of annunciator housings 11 arranged in block form. Of course, additional housing units may be arranged in similar fashion and connected to those shown in the drawing in the manner described hereinafter. Each module housing 11 comprises a tubular main body portion that is made up of a top 13 and bottom 15 half-housing, the halfhousings 13, 15 abutting along the longitudinal edges 14; a terminal board 16; a bus bar cover 17; a rear cover 15 a front shoulder frame or collar 21; and a front cover 23.

The top half housing unit 13 is identical to the bottom half-housing unit 15. Each unit 13, 15 is providedwith a plurality of index cone points on one longitudinal edge and index cone sockets 27 on the other longitudinal edge (FIG. 4).. The cone points 25 on one edge of the top unit 13 mate with the cone sockets 27 on the edge of the bottom unit 15. Because both units 13, 15 are identical, therefore, the description hereinafter of only the top halfhousing unit 13 suffices for a description of both halfhousing units 13, 15.

The top half-housing 13 is a channel shaped and is formed by a first wall 29 and spaced apart second and third substantially parallel side walls 31, 33 that are connected to the longitudinal edges of the first wall 29. The spaced apart second and third walls 31, 33 are each provided with spaced apart dovetail like grooves 35 having axes which are substantially perpendicular to the plane of the first wall 29. The dovetail grooves 35 are disposed in the external or outer surface of the second and third walls 31, 33.

The first wall 29 has in the external surface thereof a plurality of spaced apart cylindrical recesses 37 which are conveniently disposed, as shown in FIG. 2, in alignment with the axes of the dovetail grooves 35 in the side walls 31, 33. Each recess 37 accommodates a matching 7 3. projecting cylindrical end portion 38 of'a'module spacer element 39 (see FIG. 6), and a plurality of such spacer elements are used to mount a plurality of modules 11 in spaced apart vertical relation, as suggested in FIGS. 1

V and The spacerelement 39 (FIG. 6) has an oval shaped, hollow main body portion 4%, and two sets of cylindrical end portions 38 projecting from the main body portion, that are spaced apart the same distance as the recesses:

37. Thus, double spacer unit 4% is used to maintain the:

housing in spaced apart relation in a first direction.

The right-hand end of the top half-housing unit 13 (FIG. 3), is providedwith inwardly projecting shoulders 41 (only one pair of shoulders being shown) located pref-- erably at the cornersof the half-housing units 13, 15 for' receiving anchoring screws 43 to mount the bus bar cover 17 to the right-hand end of the module housing 11. The screws 43 maybe of the self-tapping. variety, or the shoulders' 41 may be drilled and the screws 43 may be machinetype screwsthat engage tapped holes in the shoulders 41 as preferred. Except for the shoulders 41, the right-hand end of the housing is open, as at 44, to provide access therewithin.

Adjacent the inwardly projecting shoulders 41' are grooves 42 that are adapted to receive the terminal board 16 of FIG. 9. Such terminal board 16 is provided with: a plurality of holes or apertures 46 that receive and: retain tubes (not shown) through which electric leads pass The corners 48 of the terminal board 16 are formed so as to cooperate with the inwardly projecting shoulders 4'1.

Intermediate the ends of the top half-housing unit 13 and about Where shown in FIG. 3, there are short longitudinally extending fourth and fifth spaced apart wall members 45 (only one being shown), that are integrallly formed with the top wall 29 and which are disposed in spaced apart relation to the adjacent side walls 31, 33 respectively. The slots or spaces 47 between the short; longitudinally extending Walls 45 and the side walls 31,. 33 are adapted to accommodate and hold the outwardly extending portion 49 of an electrical component, such as an electrical connector 51 indicated phantomly in FIGS. 3 and 4. The connector 51 is adapted, thus, to remain in a fixed position'in the housing 11 as it has only the single function of connecting the panel board 91 to the sensor, and control sections of the system; Thus, the connector 51 has almost no tendency to break down or malfunction.

The bus-bar cover 17 comprises a hollow receptacle having preferably tapering Walls 53 and an end wall 55. The tapering walls 53 are provided, at the free edges thereof, with a plurality of slots 57 arranged in side-byside spaced apart relation, as may be noticed by referring to FIG. 2. The slots 57 provide access for electrical lead Wires or other connectors that may be connected to the usual terminal tails 59 on the connector 51, or to other electrical elements, disposed within the housing 11. The end closure wall 55 is provided with a plurality of recesses 61, four being indicated in the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 3, wherein each there is a hole that accommodates the cover holding screw 43 mentioned pre- Viously. Centrally disposed on the inside surface of the end closure wall 55 is a protrusion or bossing 63 that is. adapted to receive another screw 65, preferably of the: self-tapping type, which connects the rear cover element 19 to the bus bar cover 17, as suggested in FIG. 3.

While in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the main body portion of the housing 11 comprises two cetriented half-housing units 13, 15, it is to be understood that, in some applications, the main body portion may be formed as a single unit from a suitable plastic material such as an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene polymer.

Those skilled in the art will also recognize that, even though they are not shown in the drawings, suitable bossings are provided on the inner surfaces of the walls 29, 31, 33 in way of the recesses 37 and the grooves 35 to strengthen the walls in way of the recesses and grooves.

The rear cover 19 comprises a hollow receptacle having an end closure Wall 67 that is integrally formed with tapering side walls 69; the tapering side walls 69 being flared outwardly to provide a shoulder 71 that mates with the rounded corners of the bus bar cover 17. Internally, the rear cover 19 is provided with a tubular member '73 that is formed integrally with the end closure walls :67 and which abuts the end wall 55 of the bus bar cover .17 when the module housing unit 11 is-assembled, as :shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The head of the screw 65 preferably lodges in a recess 75 in the outer surface of the end walls 67 thereby providing a flush outer surface on the end Wall 67.

In some applications, it is desirable and preferable to .arrange the module housings 11 as suggested in FIG. 10-. That is, the module housings are disposed in abutting relation in a horizontal direction but, in a vertical direction, the module housings are disposed in a spaced apart relation. In order to provide a strictly rectangular front end configuration, the unitary front shoulder frame 21 is applied to the assembled housings, as shown in FIG. 3. The front shoulder frame or collar 21 comprises a plurality of bars 7 9 that are arranged so as to interlock with the housing ends (FIG. 3). Preferably the front shoulder frame 21 is bonded to the assembled top 13 and bottom 15 housings in a conventional manner, using any suitable adhesive.

From FIG. 3 it will be noticed that the inner surface -of the respective top 13 and bottom 15 half-housings are substantially smooth, particularly adjacent the left hand end, and in each inner surface there is a centrally disposed rectangular slot 81 for receiving a projecting tab portion 83 of the front cover 23.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the halfhousing units 13, 15, the bus bar cover 17, the terminal board 16, the rear cover 19, and the front shoulder frame 21 and the spacers 39, may be made of any suitable material preferably of a plastic nature. A suitable type of plastic material for the foregoing units is an acrylonihile butadiene styrene polymer.

From FIG. 7, it will be noticed that the front cover or closure 23 is a hollow receptacle having a rectangular flat first portion 85 that merges with a V-shaped portion 87, shown at the top in FIG. 7, and sloping side walls 89. The Walls 89, at the top and bottom of the closure 23, support outwardly projecting tab portions 83 that are adapted to engage and mate with the slots 81. Actually, the front cover or closure is adapted to be inserted into the front end of the housing 11 in four different positions, depending on the arrangement of the housing.

The front cover or closure 23 is made preferably of a flexible translucent material such as translucent polypropylene. The cover is translucent for the reason that when a malfunction occurs in the electrical component within the housing, the lamps (FIGS. 3 and 8) burn and a visual signal is thus given to the system operator. Thereafter, the operator can readily and easily remove the front cover 23, reach inside the housing and remove the malfunctioning electrical component. Subsequently, a replacement component may be easily and quickly inserted in the housing and the front cover replaced. By making the front cover translucent, it is apparent that the malfunctioning component can be detected even though there is no audible alarm.

The assembly or" the module housing 11 from the several components is readily accomplished in the following manner. The top and bottom half-housing units 13, 15 are matched with the index cones 25 mating with respect1ve cone sockets 27. Before cementing or bonding the top and bottom half-housing units along the abutting surfaces 14, it is preferred that the connectors 51 and terminal board 16 be installed in the housing main body portion. The slots 47 are purposely somewhat narrower than the thickness of the outwardly projecting tab portions 49 on the connector 51 so that when the tabs are PI urged into the slots 47, the connectors are maintained in a fixed position within the housing. Thereafter, using any suitable bonding medium, the top 13 and bottom 15 half-housings may be adhesively secured to each other along abutting surfaces 14.

As mentioned previously, the unitary front shoulder frame 21 may be bonded in any suitable manner to the left-hand end of the tubular main body portion, as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 3. The front or left-hand end of the tubular housing is, at this time, open (as is the rear or right end) and an electrical component, such as the panel board module 91, is mounted in each of the connectors 51, about as indicated in FIG. 3.

In accordance with this invention, the connector 51 is mounted at a preselected intermediate position in the tubular housing which permits access to both ends of the connector. A bus-bar cover 17 is adapted to close one end of the housing, and the front or other end of the housing is closed by a readily removable closure. The connector 51 is adapted to be engaged with the panel board module 91 of an annunciator system which is inserted through the front end of the housing.

Thus, in the event of malfunctioning of the annunciator system it is necessary only to remove the front end closure, extract the improperly functioning annunciator module and insert a properly functioning spare annunciator module. This change of modules can be done with a minimum of time and effort on the part of an operator.

FIG. 8 shows somewhat schematically a typical annunciator panel board 91. In this instance, the electrical circuitry is encapsulated in the unit denoted 99 that is mounted on the base portion 49, preferably of an electrically conductive metal. As mentioned previously, there are a plurality of supports 92 that project from the base member 49 for engagement with the side wall of the housing 31.

I In a side wall of the unit 99, there is an elongate slot 102 that cooperates with the main body portion of a keying insert 104 (FIG. when the insert is mounted within one of the half-housing units 13, 15. FIG. 3 shows the keying insert 104 mounted in one location in the halfhousing unit 15. It should be understood that a plurality of mounting holes to receive the outwardly projecting portion 38, though not shown, are provided in each halfhousing unit -13, 15. Thus, a number of different modules, each having a slot 102, may be arranged in the housing 11.

Extending from the unit 99 are the warning lamps 90 that burn when the annunciator module is malfunctioning. The base portion 49 also has an aperture 101 in the left-hand end for receiving a finger or a tool, as mentioned previously, to extract the module or electrical component from the housing.

After a plurality of the module housing 11 have been assembled in the manner suggested, a system comprising several'module housings 11, or as many as desired, may be stacked vertically and/or horizontally, about as indicated in FIG. 1.

In one aspect of the invention the module housings -11 are arranged in spaced apart relation in a first direction (vertical) using a plurality of the spacer pieces 39. The cylindrical extending portions 38 of the spacer pieces, as mentioned previously, may be readily inserted in the recesses 37 provided in both the top and bottom half-housing units 13, 15. In the arrangement housing units 11 shown in FIG. 1, the several component housings 11 are maintained in a spaced apart relation in a second direction (horizontal) by inserting a length of double-tenon spline 93 (see FIG. 2), which is preferably made also of an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene polymer plastic material in the grooves 35. The double-tenon spline 93 is adapted to r'it snugly in the opposed dovetail grooves 35 of adjacent housings, and the housings are frictionallyheld in position; no additional fasteners are required to secure the adjacent housings to the spline 93. As shown in FIG. 1, the first direction is vertical and the second direc- 6 t-ion is horizontal, but, of course, the first and second directions need not be limited to strictly vertical or horizontal directions.

In the arrangement of housings shown in FIG. 10, the double-tenon spline 93 is also used, but it is shorter than the spline shown in FIG. 2, so that the shoulder frames 21 of adjacent housings 11 abut in the horizontal direction.

The module housings at the ends of a stacked arrangement, such housings being indicated by the letter A in FIG. 1, are supported by continuous lengths of a singletenon metal spline 95, having therein one or more holes 97 adapted to receive suitable mounting fasteners; thus, the entire stack of modules maybe fixed to a convenient supporting structure in a selected location. Preferably, the single-tenon spline is made of metal, such as aluminum, although a suitable plastic material may be used if preferred.

After the module housings have been stacked in a preferred manner, and after the connectors 51 are wired, the electrical leads passing through the holes 46 in the terminal board 16, the bus-bar cover 17 may be mounted to the rear end of the module housing, making sure that the wire leads are placed in respective slots 57; the cover 17 'being secured, of course, by the screws 43. Later, after the field terminals 100 (FIG. 3) are wired in (the terminals 100 having been connected previously to the connector 51), the rear cover 19 may 'be placed over the terminals 100 in the end of the bus bar cover and secured in place by the screw fasteners 65. Thereupon, the flexible translucent end closure, or front cover 23, may be inserted in the end of the module housing 11; the projections 83 engaging respective slots 81.

Those skilled in the art will recognize several features and advantages in the novel electrical component housing 11 of the invention. Each of the housings may beassem-bled rapidly and easily, and an electrical system, such as an annunciator system, can be readily and quickly assembled by the building block method. No special tools or skills are required to assemble the stackedarrangement of module housings and the assembled groups of housings may be supported from-existing structure, using nothing more than ordinary tools and equipment. The individual electrical component units, such as module panel board 91, may be readily removed, and new module units may be plugged into the connector 51 simply by removing the front end closure 23 of the housing and then reaching inside the housing and grasping the component with the fingers or with an appropriate tool. Also, the wiring associated with the electrical connectors mounted in the housing is quickly and easily accomplished; Once the connector 51 is wired, it is no longer necessary to disconnect and connect the electrical components, such as the panel board 91, each time a malfunction develops. Other features and advantages of the invention arerefiected in that the individual electrical components may be removed and replaced by persons who need not be skilled in the electronic art. It is only necessary to remove the cover 23, pull out the defective component,

plug in a replacement component, and then replace the front cover 23.

Moreover, the housing 11 of the invention may be used in many different configurations of rows and columns to suit almost any requirement. In fact, many different sequences and arrangements can be blocked if desired.

While the housing 11 has been shown as a rectangular tubular element, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that the housing may have a cylindrical, ellipsoidal, or other geometrical form and the housing of the invention is not limited to only a rectangular configuration.

Although the invention has been described herein with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only as an example and that various modifications and changes may be made within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A housing for electrical components comprising:

(a) a main body portion including first and second matching units, each such unit comprising:

(i) a first wall having longitudinal edges;

(ii) spaced apart second and third side walls joined to the longitudinal edges of said first walls, the walls of said unit having therein I spaced apart external grooves,

(iii) fourth and fifth spaced apart walls joined to said first wall and spaced apart from respective second and third walls forming slots, adapted to receive and cooperatively maintain one of said electrical components within said main body portion;

(iv) cooperative means on said first and second units for maintaining said units in matched substantially parallel axial relation;

(b) a collar mounted to one end of said main body portion and securing together said matched first and second units;

(c) a first closure removably secured to said main body port-ion; and

(d) a second'closure removably secured to the other end of said main body portion and having therein perforations for admitting electrical connections to the electrical components within said housing.

2. The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein:

(a) said collar is bonded to the one end of said main body portion; and

(b) said first and second units are bonded together in matching relation.

3. The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein:

(a) said cooperative means on said first and second units includes a plurality of conical points and matching conical sockets.

4. The invention set forth in claim 1 wherein:

(a) said first closure is flexible translucent plastic mate-rial; and

(b) said main body portion, said collar and said second end closure are of plastic material.

5. The invention set forth in claim 1 including:

(a) a third closure removably mounted to said second closure.

6. A system of housings for electrical components comprising:

(a) a plurality of such component housings arranged in spaced apart relation each said housing including (i) a main body portion including first and second matching units comprised of (1) a first wall having longitudinal edges;

(2) spaced apart second and third walls joined to the longitudinal edges of said first wall, the walls of said unit having therein spaced apart external grooves;

(3) fourth and fifth spaced apart walls joined to said first wall and spaced apart from respective second and third walls forming slots adapted to receive and cooperatively maintain one of said electrical components within said main body portion;

(4) cooperative means on said first and second units maintaining said units in matched substantially parallel axial relation;

(5) a collar mounted to one end of said main body portion and securing together said matched first and second units;

(6) a first closure removably secured to said main body portion; and

(7) a second closure removably secured to the other end of said main body portion and having therein perforations for admitting electrical connections to the electrical components within said housing;

(b) first means cooperating with adjacent housing units whereby a group of said units is maintained in spaced relation in a first direction; and

(c) second means cooperating with opposed grooves in adajcent spaced units or groups of units whereby adjacent groups of units are maintained in spaced relation in a second direction.

7. The invention set forth in claim 6 :wherein:

(a) said first means comprises spacer pieces;

(b) said second means comprises splines that frictionally maintain the cooperative units in preselected positions; and

(c) a third closure is removably mounted to the second closure of each housing unit;

8. An assemblyof housings for electrical components of annunciator systems comprising:

(a) a plurality of annunciator module housings each housing including (i) an elongated tubular member adapted to contain at least one of said electrical components;

(ii) a first closure removably secured to one end of said member;

(iii) a second closure removably secured to the other end of said member and having therein perforations for removably admitting electrical leads to be connected to the electrical components within said housing;

(0) said housings being arranged in groups, each group including at least one housing unit;

(c) first means cooperating with and maintaining adjacent housing units of a group in juxtaposed relation in a first direction; and

(d) second means cooperating with and maintaining adjacent groups of housing units in juxtaposed relation in a second direction.

9. The invention set forth in claim 8 wherein:

(a) said first means comprises spacer pieces of a preselected definite length; and

(b) said second means comprises splines of preselected definite length.

10. The invention set forth in claim 9 wherein:

(a) said spacer pieces cooperate with recesses in a first exterior wall of adjacent housing units; and

(b) said splines cooperate with grooves in a second exterior wall of adjacent housing units.

11. An electrical assembly comprising (a) a longitudinally extending tubular housing;

(b) an electrical connector mounted within said housing intermediate the end thereof, access to said connector being gained from either end of said housing;

(0) a first closure removably secured to one end of said housing;

(d) electrical terminals associated with said first closure that are adapted to be connected to said electrical connector;

(e) a second closure cooperating with said first closure and covering said electrical terminals;

(f) an electrical component disposed in said housing in cooperative engagement with said connector, said component being inserted into and extractable via the other open end of said housing;

(g) a second resilient closure cooperatively engaging and removable from said housing at said other end; and

(h) means to extract said component from said housing whereby upon the malfunctioning of said electrical component it may be extracted therefrom and a properly functioning component inserted thereinto so as to engage with said connector.

12. The invention set forth in claim 11 wherein:

(a) said tubular housing has a rectangular cross sectional shape.

13. An assembly of annunciator systems comprising:

(a) a plurality of longitudinally extending tubular housings arranged in groups, each group including at least one housing;

(b) an electrical connector mounted within each said housing intermediate the ends thereof, access to said connector being gained from either end of said housing;

(c) a first closure removably secured to one end of each housing;

(d) electrical terminals associated with each said first closure that are adapted to be connected to said electrical connector;

(e) means covering the terminals of each said first closure;

(f) an annunciator module disposed in each housing in cooperative engagement with said connector, said module being inserted into and extractable via the other open end of said housing;

(g) means to extract said annunciator module from said housing whereby upon the malfunctioning of said module, it maybe extracted therefrom and a properly functioning module may be inserted into said housing and into engagement with said connector;

(h) first means cooperating with and maintaining adjacent housings of a group in spaced relation in a first direction; and

(i) second means cooperating with and maintaining adjacent groups-of housings in spaced relation in a second direction.

14. An assembly of annunciator systems comprising:

(a) a plurality of longitudinally extending housing units arranged in groups, each group including at least one housing;

(b) an electrical connector mounted within each said housing intermediate the ends thereof, access to said connector being gained from either end of said hous- (c) a first closure removably secured to one end of each housing;

(d) electrical terminals associated with each said first closure that are adapted to be electrically wired to said electrical connector;

(e) means covering the terminals of each said first closure;

(f) an annunciator module disposed in each housing in cooperative engagement with said connector, said module being inserted into and extractable via the other open end of said housing;

(g) a terminal board disposed within each housing intermediate said connector and said first closure, said terminal board cooperating with the electrical connector being gained from either end of said housnals;

(h) means to extract said annunciator module from said housing whereby upon the malfunctioning of said module, it may be extracted therefrom and a properly functioning module may be inserted into said 1 r 15. The invention set forth in claim 14 wherein:

(a) said first means comprises first spacer pieces of preselected length that are cooperative with opposed adjacent housing units in a group; and

(b) said second means comprises second spacer pieces that cooperate with opposed adjacent housing units in adjacent groups.

16. The invention set forth in claim 14 wherein:

(a) said longitudinally extending housings are parallelepiped in shape.

17. The invention set forth in claim 14 wherein:

(a) said second closure is translucent whereby whenever said annunciator malfunctions, a visual signal generated in said module is evident through said translucent second closure.

18. A system of housings for electrical components comprising:

(a) a plurality of such component housings arranged in spaced apart relation each such housing including (i) a main body portion including first and second matching units comprised of (1) a first wall having longitudinal edges;

(2) spaced apart second and third walls joined to the longitudinal edges of said first wall, said second and third walls having therein spaced apart external grooves;

(3) fourth and fifth spaced apart walls joined to said first wall and spaced apart from respective second and third walls forming slots adapted to receive and cooperatively maintain one of said electrical components Within said main body portion;

(4) cooperative means on said first and second units maintaining said units in matched substantially parallel axial relation;

(5) a collar mounted to one end of said main body portion and securing together said matched first and second units;

(6) a first closure removably secured to said main body portion and closing said one end;

(7) a second closure removably secured to the other end of said main body portion and having therein perforations for admitting electrical connectors running to an electrical component within said housing;

(8) a third closure removably mounted to said second closure; and

(9) a terminal board disposed within said housing intermediate the fourth and fifth Walls and said second closure, said terminal board being perforated to accommodate the electrical connections running to said electric components;

(b) an electrical connector mounted in said slots within each said housing and intermediate the ends thereof, access to said connector being gained from either opened end of said housing;

(c) electrical terminals associated with each said second closure that are adapted to be connected to said electrical connectors;

(d) an annunciator module disposed in each housing in cooperative engagement with said connector, said module being insertable into and extractable via said one end of said housing;

(e) means mountable within said housing and engageable with said module whereby said module is oriented in a selective manner;

(f) means to extract said annunciator module from said housing whereby upon the malfunctioning of said module, it may be extracted therefrom and a properly functioning module may be inserted into said housing and into engagement with said connector;

(g) first means including first spacer pieces of preselected length that are cooperative with opposed housing units in a group whereby a group of said References Cited by the Examiner 21951531563121: is maintained in spaced relation in a UNITED STATES PATENTS (h) Second means including second spacer pieces of g' 9/1939 Fledler 317 119 preselected length that cooperate with opposed hous- 5 3103 1635 5/1962 Glass 312 111 X ing units in adjacent groups whereby said groups of 3,125,385 3/1964 Fnedman 312 111 X housing units are maintained in spaced relation in a 3168613 2/1965 Palm 174-60 X Second direction; and 3,201,786 8/1965 Anderson et al. 317- 118 X (i) third means cooperative with at least one housing; U r p unit whereby said assembly of annunciator systems is' m ROBLRT SVHAEFER Primary Exammer supported as an entity. M. GINSBURG, Assistant Examiner. 

8. AN ASSEMBLY OF HOUSINGS FOR ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS OF ANNUNCIATOR SYSTEMS COMPRISING: (A) A PLURALITY OF ANNUNCIATOR MODULE HOUSINGS EACH HOUSING INCLUDING (I) AN ELONGATED TUBULAR MEMBER ADAPTED TO CONTAIN AT LEAST ONE OF SAID ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS; (II) A FIRST CLOSURE REMOVABLY SECURED TO ONE END OF SAID MEMBER; (III) A SECOND CLOSURE REMOVABLY SECURED TO THE OTHER END OF SAID MEMBER AND HAVING THEREIN PERFORATIONS FOR REMOVABLY ADMITTING ELECTRICAL LEADS TO BE CONNECTED TO THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WITHIN SAID HOUSING; (B) SAID HOUSINGS BEING ARRANGED IN GROUPS, EACH GROUP INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE HOUSING UNIT; (C) FIRST MEANS COOPERATING WITH AND MAINTAINING ADJACENT HOUSING UNITS OF A GROUP IN JUXTAPOSED RELATION IN A FIRST DIRECTION; AND (D) SECOND MEANS COOPERATING WITH AND MAINTAINING ADJACENT GROUPS OF HOUSING UNITS IN JUXTAPOSED RELATION IN A SECOND DIRECTION. 